Richmond Drug Dealer Sentenced to 11 Years for Conspiring to Distribute 900 Grams of Heroin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March , 2012

RICHMOND, Va. – Mark Lawrence, 42, of Richmond, Virginia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge James R. Spencer to 132 months of imprisonment for his role in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of heroin in the Richmond area.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ava A. Cooper-Davis, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Washington Field Division; and Bryan Norwood, Chief, Richmond Police Department, made the announcement after Lawrence’s sentencing today.

Lawrence pled guilty on January 3, 2012, to one count of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Heroin, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 846. According to court documents, on May 17, 2011, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Richmond Police Department executed a search warrant at 5324 Hull Street Road, Apartment 14, Richmond, Virginia. During the execution of the warrant, Lawrence jumped off a second story balcony in an attempt to flee the scene. He was promptly taken into custody. A search of the apartment uncovered 900 grams of heroin packaged in brick form; three firearms: a .50 caliber revolver, a .45 caliber pistol, and a 12 gauge shotgun; a 20 ton hydraulic press used to turn powdered heroin into a brick form; and various other instrumentalities used to cut and package narcotics. On March 12, 2012, Lawrence’s co-defendant, Walter Mitchell, Jr., was sentenced to 252 months for his role in the conspiracy.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, in conjunction with the City of Richmond Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Siebert and Peter S. Duffey prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.